Coaxial cable terminal



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March 2s, 1939. T. R. SCOTT, Er AL 2,152,504

coAxIAL CABLE TERMINAL Filed June 20,1936 :s sheets-sheet 2 F/G.4 Vj 2 /4 5 'i 4 I ..mU fw-*11 llllllllllllllrh A r. R. scoTT ATTORNEY `Mmh 28, 1939. T. R. scow ET AL 2,152,504

COAXIAL CABLE TERMINAL v Filed June 20., 1956` 5 Sheets-Sheet 5f kT R. SCOTT y T. E. 0. ME/vZ/Es 5.2 77(ac%ama( ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 28,y 1939 152,504 ooexmr. CABLE TERMINAL p Thomas B.. Scott and Thomas E. D. Menzies,

Aidwych, London, England, assignors t Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New

. York, N. Y., a corporation o! New Yori:

apprenne me@ 1ere, semi No'. sazia n1 meer. annie, nur e, icas El lili-miti) invention relates to improvements in frequency coronal cable installations. and for its main object to provide means for scalini; and/or terminating such cables i'cr example in repeater stations, exchanges or radio installa-n tions where they are required to be connected to the signal transmitting or receiving equip ment.

ln such coaxial cable systems, special pron vision requires to be made ior the termination of the cables. When it is realized that each coaxial cable of the system may be carrying a hundred or more messagel channels it is clear that the usual type of terminal box used with telephone toll cables is quite unsuited for the new type of cable in question, as it is important to maintain the electrical continuity and coaxial arrangement of the conductors right through to the equipment with which the cables are to be associated. n

The present invention, therefore, provides a method of terminating coaxial conductor cables by connecting to the end o! the cable a terminating device having a chamber wherein the cable may be sealed and secured in position, the electrical continuity and coaxial arrangement of the cable conductors being maintained in the terminating device for connection to the equipment with which the cable is associated, for example,

exchange repeater station or radio installa- According to a feature of the invention there is provided a terminating device for the'end of a coaxial conductor cable comprising a casing forming an outer conductor and supporting an inner conductor, the arrangement being designed to preserve the electrical continuity and coaxial arrangement of the cable conductors for connection to the electrical equipment associated with the cable, and providing means for securing the cable to a support where the cable terminates.

According to another feature of the invention, the terminating device comprises a detachable 55 prevent accidental removal thereof.

link including an inner and outer conductorA vfor example, polystyrene, and sealing the cable end.

According to a further feature of the invention 15 the terminating device may be provided with an insulator cap for external mounting.,

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through one 2c form of terminating device according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of a modified form of terminating device according to the invention; l

Fig. 3 is a part sectional view of a connecting U link for association with the terminating device according to the invention;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing a modified form of connecting device according to the inven- 30 tion;

Fig. 5 is a part sectional view of a further modied form ofconnecting device;

Figs. 6 and 'I are sectional elevations of modified constructions ofv terminating devices accord- ,35 ing to the invention in which the central con ductor 'of the cable extends through the termination:

' Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing a modified form of plug and socket connection and adapter;

Fig. 9 is a part sectional elevation of a termination according to the invention particularly adapted for outdoor mounting.

The termination shown in Fig. 1, consists of an'outer casing I of gunmetal or other suitable 45 `alloy which is plumbed to the cable sheath indicatedat A and is in direct electrical contact with the outer conductor B of the cable via the screwed brass-ring 3 which is soldered to the inner brass connector d whilst at the same time forming the end walls oi. the sealing chamber i4. 'I'he dimensions of the step are designed to ensure a high resistance leakage current path both under compound and in air. The inner connector is provided with soldering sockets I5 and I6 at the inner and outer ends respectively in which the inner conductor C of the cable and the'outgoing conductor wire indicated at D are soldered. I'he rigidity of the inner connector 8 is secured by means of the locking nut 9 which permits the connector to be tightened up against the bush 1. The central sealing chamber Il is provided with a lling opening and cover plate 2 held in position by four set screws.` This nlling opening gives access to the inner connector for soldering purposes. 'Ihe outgoing end of the casing I is fitted with a bush III of moulded insulating material through 4which the inner connector passes and which serves to prevent the ingress oi dust, etc. into the space between the bushes I and 1. The outside of the outgoing end of the casing I may be screwed and tted with nuts l and and washers II as a means of ilxing the termination .to a frame or panel. A groove I2 enables a soldered outgoing wire connection to be made to the outer casing. 'Ihe nlling medium may be polystyrene or other suitable compound having the requisite electrical and physical properties.

An alternative design suitable for indoor mounting where it is desired to take oi! the outgoing connection in a direction at right angles to that of the incoming cable is shown in Fig. 2. 'Ihe outer casing IX is in the form of a right angled bend of gunmetal or other suitable alloy which is plumbed to the cable sheath A and which is in electrical contact with the outer conductor B of the cable as described under Fig. 1. An alternative method is to solder the outer conductor to the sheath directly, thereby making electrical contact to the outer casing, via. the lead sheath and plumbed joint. The interior of the casing is fitted with screwed and' stepped bushes 6X and 1X whose design and function is already explained in Fig. l. vl'he inner connector 8X is drilled to take the inner conductor C of the cable which may be soldered thereto. Theouter end of the connector may have a socket designed to take a plug connection 2| in which the electrical" contact is obtained by means of spring contacts of phosphor bronze or other suitable metal. A removable screw cap 23 gives access to the connector for soldering and compound filling pur-- poses. The rigidity o! the inner connector is ensured by means of the locking nut SX. The outgoing l piece oi' the casing may have its inner surface 2li machined either parallel or with a slight taper to accommodate the outer casing iii of a plug-fltting and lthereby maintain electrical continuity. The outside of the T may be screwed and fitted VWitl'l. irame or panel fixing nuts 4X and 5X. A locking ring: 22 as described hereafter can also be screwed on to the casing. .it nipple I Il with double screw sealing devices as shown may be provided on the outer casing which permits oi air or gas being applied to the interior of thecable for pressure testing or desiccatinc; purposes. The filling medium :may be poly-u styrene or other suitable compound having the requisite electrical and physico?. "properties as stated under i..

In 3 an arrangement oi a plug-in il lint. is shown. A U linlz of such o. design provides a means of interconnecting the coaxial termination with the station equipment whilst maintainescasos.

ing the conccntricity ci `the clibie and whereby the latter can be isolated :trom the cable for test" outer connector IBY of nickel plated brass or` other suitable material. The inner connector 28 is located concentrically within the outer casing by means of the split bushes 25 of moulded Bakelite or other suitable insulating material. The inner connector 2B is terminated on each leg by spring contact strips forming plug connectors NY which are designed to be a good push nt in the sockets of the brass connectors IY. Shoulders may be provided on the inner connector as shown to fit into corresponding grooves of two or more of the split bushes 25. The two halves of the outer connector ISY are located in outside grooves of the bushes by means oi the corresponding depressions III on the outer connector which provide a registration for the split clamps 21 which hold the two halves oi the connector together. Locking rings 22Y cooperating with the annular projections 2l and the casing IY may be provided to prevent the accidental removal of the U link. The outer surface of the connector engaging the casing IY should be polished in order to maintain the contact resistance at a minimum value.

In another arrangement shown in Fig. 4, a straight link is illustrated. This link may be used when It ls desired to connect to the station equipment by means of wires and without maintaining the concentricity. The inner connector NZ of the plug is drilled at its outer end to take the outgoing connection D which can be soldered thereto. The outer surface of the outer split connector ISZ may be tinned to form a suitable soldering surface for an outgoing wire connection.

Another alternative is shown in Fig. 5, which shows the outer end of the straight link connected to a iiexible coaxial cable 3i by means oi' the soldering socket 3U for the inner conductor CI and the brass sleeves 28W and 25 for the outer conductor Bl these brass sleeves being soldered respectively to the split outer connector I 9W and the metal tapes of the outer flexible conductor BI.

In another alternative shown in Fig. 6 the design of the `termination may be simplified i! the inner conductor C is permitted to pass through and extend beyond the casing IV of the termination. The method oi.' connecting the outer conductor to the casing would be as explained under Fig. i. The inner corllriuctor passes through the screwed and stepped. i" t and HillY formed. oi? high duality instill g material. The inner hush l serves to centr l the inner conductor and forms one end sealing chamber NW. The outer bush. ii'lii centralizes lthe inner conductor at the point ci emergence from the termination whilst iiorniingi the outer end of the sealing chamber I Iii. ifi double ended soldering socket iii would be connected to the inner conductor and the outgoing count-rotor wire. The outside of the outgoing end ci 'the rising IV maybe screwexi and fitted witl" and t and 'ii as n nie-ans oiJ iiirii or to t` ca .the outside o... of the casing f may have n Wire connection may he in lng. ltie sealingl chamber Mii may suitable compound. as before described. ln order 

